The Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour

It’s hard to come across truly unique offerings in your city because there’s always a million other people before you who have «been there, done that.» The Thrilling Adventure Hour might just be one of those few local treasures that has yet to be infiltrated by the masses, but it’s time to blow this shit out of the water!
I bought a ticket to the April performance (they come to Largo once-​ish a month and the May show is already sold out!!), and am so grateful for that fleeting moment of wanting to do something different. It was a 90-​minute hoot. Super entertaining and hilarious.
What is it, you ask? It’s really tricky to articulate, but essentially it’s a radio show performed live on stage — before TVs, when families used to crowd around the radio to be engrossed in stories, plays, commercials, etc. It’s rooted in nostalgic Americana, with throwback commercials and Pleasantville-​esque segments. There are an abundant amount of celebrities who participate as well, which was a lovely little surprise.
Get tickets here (
). Immediately. Like, now.

What can I say? I’m an addict. I already have our tickets for the Feb and Mar shows.
I now emotionally understand those classic images of families gathered around the radio to listen to weekly programs. With only two shows under my belt, I’ve already fallen in love with the characters and want to know what happens next. My husband is equally addicted.
The performances are just wonderful – funny, engaging, and phenomenal singing. We first went because Nathan Fillion was a guest performer, and we’re huge Firefly/​Castle fans. But now we are going for the regular cast. That’s how awesome the show is. Thrilling Adventure stands on its own, the special guests are just icing on top of a truly delectable cake!

So good. Fun, hilarious, and a fab cast. You’ll recognize many of the players from stage and screen, and they all seem tickled pink to be up there overacting their melodramatic hearts out. Can’t wait to go again!
The venue is small (ish), so buy your tix ahead of time.
Lots of places to eat and drink in the neighborhood (and Trashy Lingerie’s practically next door). Parking is iffy, though there is a lot practically next to the theater, and the Beverly Center’s super close, so parking there isn’t a bad idea at all (plus then there’s an excuse to go to Bendel’s and/​or eat a giant soft pretzel).

I’ve gone three times, and have just bought tickets for December’s show. This show is so much fun, completely hilarious, and it’s great to go more than once and see continuations of each serial story.
My only critique: at the beginning of every show they say they’re recording for a podcast… and still no podcast to be found! I want to share the love with non-​LA people! Also, a soundtrack would be great; the Sparks Nevada and Workjuice songs get stuck in my head all the time.

I’ve been living in LA for about two months now, looking for things to do that didn’t involve bars, clubs, or any variation of that kind. I found out about the Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour randomly through twitter, thought it sounded different and interesting, and bought two tickets online right away.
I’m glad I did, because I heard the show sold out and some waiting to buy tickets that night were turned away. Tickets were $ 25 and will call, with no service fee. I just showed up before the show, gave my name to the guy at the door, and he gave me a piece of paper with my seat number. I thought it was actually going to be all general admission (which is why I showed up early) and was relieved to see we had assigned seats.
NOTE: After attending this show more than once (and other shows at the Largo), they assign seats based on a first come, first serve basis.
The show itself was hilarious and extremely entertaining. They have a great cast, along with some fairly big name guest stars (the night I went was like a Freaks and Geeks reunion, along with Dave Foley, and my fave, Nathan Fillion). Do you remember those old school radio programs where you would listen to stories and cheeseball commercials? Well, that’s what this is… turned on its head. There are set «programs» (my favorite was Captain Laserbeam, although all were lots of fun) and it looks like they rotate out certain roles to guest stars. If you’re looking for a different way to spend a Saturday night, I’d suggest adding this to your list.
The venue, Largo, was a perfect choice for them. It was large enough to accommodate a fair number of people and still felt intimate. See you all there next month, I’m hooked.

Hilarious old-​timey radio show chock-​full of celebrity guest stars. Tonight alone they had Nathan Fillion, Linda Cardellini, Samm Levine, Dave Foley, and Martin Starr. Regulars include John DiMaggio (the voice of Bender from Futurama) and Paget Brewster. Well worth the $ 25. Just make sure you buy tix online ahead of time. There was a huge line of stand-​bys waiting to get in, most of whom were turned away because the house was packed.

The Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour is a three-​part, live show done in a 30s radio format complete with a sound-​effects guy the second Saturday of every month at MBar. The witty and funny writing is executed perfectly by the players which include Paul F. Tompkins (formerly of Mr. Show), Dave «Gruber» Allen (formerly of Freaks and Geeks) and Paget Brewster (of Showtime’s Huff). There’s an ongoing space-​western, the occasional appearance of Presto Prescott, Professor of Prestidigitation and one of my favorites, Beyond Belief-​The story of Frank and Sadie Doyle, a socialite couple who can see ghosts. The show is refreshing and it’s only a $ 5 cover. For an extra $ 9 – 15 with a reservation, you can enjoy dinner (with a limited menu). The only downsides are the lack of free parking (you can pay $ 5 for valet, which isn’t bad) and if you don’t make a reservation and you fail to grab a seat at the bar, you might find yourself standing for the duration of the show. What I’m trying to say is, ladies, wear flats.

If you’ve been in Los Angeles long enough, you probably remember the days when it was easy to get into a Jon Brion show, before the Entertainment Weekly crowd caught on to the fact that A-​List talent like Michael Stipe and Fiona Apple were often in the audience and sometimes could be coaxed onstage for thrillingly intimate performances.
Acker and Blacker’s Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour is kind of like that, but with an «old-​time radio show» setting. The second Saturday of every month, a cast of genius comic irregulars you’ll recognize from sitcoms-that-don’t-suck (including Paul F. Tompkins, Paget Brewster, and Dave Gruber Allen) are joined by surprise guests, as well as a sound effects artist and a live band to produce an hour of snappy comedy that riffs on classic radio without feeling old. It’s a great night out with friends, as rare and refined as a stiff gin martini.